Shitting Glitter band Interview

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I N T E R V I E W
June 2004
Shitting Glitter

Band email Devin@shittingglitter.com
Band email shttngglttr@aol.com
Band contact number: 323-460-4770

RCN: Hello, we are here with Shitting Glitter, a local band from West Hollywood, and they're breakdancing, so we're going to find out a little more about what makes them tick. . .

1. RCN: What type of band are you?

Well, we're queer, and our music is an amalgamation of rock, new wave, electro, folk rock with a lot of punk spirit. We're sort of like Blondie in that we can do a lot of different styles. One night we may be totally synth pop and then we have our grass roots, political side and we can jam out acoustic sets with the best of them.

2. RCN: Tell us the brief history of your band.

Well it started out with two lesbians and then I joined and three years later our lineup is like the Thompson Twins' drug crazed evil triplets only years younger. We've played a lot of clubs around LA and done some big gay events, we gig about twice a month at least. We've recorded quite a few songs and put out some CD's and a vinyl single, which you can buy at Amoeba.

3. RCN: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

All three of us have differents tastes; I'm definitely the new-wave & synth pop whore, Amy likes the typical lesbian fare- Ani Difranco, Alanis Morisette, etc., and Brandon's record collection is very eclectic; everything from Dandy Warhols to Roger Cline and the pacemakers or whatever their called, and Bob Dylan & Beatles stuff. I like Devo, Human League, Duran Duran etc. We all love Electric Six and Scissor Sisters.

4. RCN: What are your dreams and goals? It keeps changing. The best goal of course would be able to do this for a living and tour, record music and make a decent living off of it.

5. RCN: Who writes the songs, what are they about? Amy writes all the lyrics, no exceptions. Her lyrics are really personal if you listen to them. She's an amazing poet and her writing is what made me want to be in the band. The music is more my child, although I share the duties with my brother. We'll jam and come up with a song and Amy will put lyrics and a melody on top of it.

6. RCN: What's your opinion of George Bush?

We are utterly against Bush... first off, he hates queers so, we hate him right back. In fact we just played last weekend at a rally in support of Gay Marriage Equality which was also anti-Bush.

7. RCN: How do you promote your band and shows?

We whore ourselves out however we can. Nothing really works anyway but we keep trying the usuals: handing out flyers, sleeping with potential fans, etc. Seriously, we try hard to make flyers and to make them interesting. We hand out free CD's, we hang up posters, Amy sends out great e-mails, and we're always going out to meet new people. It's hard and no one thing really works. It's just all about not giving up and trying to win one fan at a time.

8. RCN: Describe your show, visual and musically.

Well Amy's really theatrical cause she's an actress by nature, so she is the focal point, and she really gets into her words. We always dress up a lot, in our own crazy styles, very colorful. Amy always wears a wig to begin with. So, then Brandon jumps up and down a lot and runs around the stage as much as he can. Since I'm stuck behind the keyboard there's not too much I can do but I bop along as much as I can. Our set lists are always extremely carefully thought out, as to what order the songs should be in and what songs each particular crowd should hear. Amy takes that very seriously.

9. RCN: What do you think about downloading music online?

Well we think it's great. As artists, the best thing someone could do is listen to our music and we want as many people to hear as possible. Since the radio is pretty much a dead format, (although we do love Indie 103.1fm) the internet is a great way for people to hear our music. Personally, I only download songs to sort of preview them. If I like an artist, I will buy their CD.

10. RCN: What's your outlook on the record industry today?

It's probably just as hard as it's ever been, with just as many rewards. For awhile I kept thinking it was impossible and that it was ruined, it was corrupted, but I'm sure people have always felt that way when they're outside trying to get in. In reality, there are a lot of good bands that have gotten the breaks they deserved and are living off their art. That's all we want; to be among them. And we just keep working as hard as we can to succeed, but have a real good time in the process.

11. RCN: What's your claim to fame?

Initially our goal was to be the first openly gay pop/rock band. Now that the whole 'gay' thing is so instyle, it doesn't seem to be as pertinent to me, and I would hate to get snatched up in some fad of 'gay bands' because, for as much as we've tried to appeal to the gay community, it hasn't really offered us that much support, and we want to stand on our own merits in the rock world, as a real good band, not just a gay band. Having said that, in my opinion, any band that can make great pop songs with synths and guitars both is a great band in my book, there aren't that many of them, and we're one of them..

12. RCN: Tell us a story about a day in your life.

We all think about the band at all times.

13. RCN: What inspires you to do what you do?

When you're stuck in a rut, a song can pull you out of it. When you don't know what to say, a song can say it for you. It's the most powerful thing, yet it can also be total mindless entertainment all at the same time.

14. RCN: What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Learn how to deal with each other, you have to really love the people in your band. Because once you get going, it's going to be you guys against the world. You have to stick together and support each other.

15. RCN: What are some of your pet peeves?

Bands that think that if they act better than you, that you'll think they are better than you. It's so lame and unfriendly. Bands need to support each other, make each other feel like what we're doing is worthwhile.

16. RCN: How does music affect you and the world around you?

Well music is my world. I'm one of those people who thinks of a song anytime anything happens, no matter how trivial it may be.

17. RCN: What's new in the recording of your music?

We got rid of our drummer and bought a new drum machine. We prefer live drums but the problems we've had with drummers has been, really surreal is the only way to say it, like things you wouldn't believe, and so while we prefer to have a real drummer, we have to move on this way until the exact right person comes along.

18. RCN: What are the biggest obstacles for bands?

Other bands & "promoters" who want all your energy and money.

19. RCN: What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

The best thing is that we would all be in clubs drinking anyway and it's much more fun to be onstage playing while you're there. The worst thing is that there are usually drunk people who are rude and really should have just stayed at home.

20. RCN: Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.

We will be playing at Club Lingerie on Thursday, June 17 and the show is going to kick some serious ass because it's sponsored by FemMuse, www.femmuse.com and they always put together an awesome show featuring hot girl musicians. Rynata, the Shredmistress, is one of the most dynamic & sincere people in the LA music scene and she can really wail on the guitar. And we'll be in top form, of course, because we will have just gotten back from headlining at the Albuquerque Pride Festival in New Mexico, and will be playing th LA Pride that weekend so we're going to be on a week long adrenalin kick.

RCN: Thank you for your insight and time. We'll look forward to hearing your music and seeing your next live show . . . Later gator.

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